What is one limitation of the longitudinal design?

What is one limitation of the longitudinal design?

• A. It does not account for individual differences
• B. It is time-consuming and can be expensive
• C. It cannot show any change over time
• D. It requires a random sample of participants

Answer: (B)

A longitudinal design involves studying the same group of individuals over an extended period to observe changes and developments over time. One significant limitation of this type of design is that it is indeed time-consuming and can be expensive. Researchers must invest considerable time to follow participants throughout the study, which may require extensive data collection and participant engagement over months or even years. This extended duration not only raises logistical challenges but can also lead to higher costs in terms of resources, staffing, and potential dropout of participants over time, which may affect the integrity of the data collected. In contrast, while individual differences may influence results in longitudinal studies, the design does allow for such factors to be analyzed over time. A longitudinal design can effectively document changes, contradicting the idea that it cannot show changes, and while random sampling can enhance the generalizability of findings, it is not a strict requirement for longitudinal research. Thus, the limitation highlighted in the correct answer accurately reflects the intrinsic challenges posed by longitudinal studies.

A longitudinal design involves studying the same group of individuals over an extended period to observe changes and developments over time. One significant limitation of this type of design is that it is indeed time-consuming and can be expensive. Researchers must invest considerable time to follow participants throughout the study, which may require extensive data collection and participant engagement over months or even years. This extended duration not only raises logistical challenges but can also lead to higher costs in terms of resources, staffing, and potential dropout of participants over time, which may affect the integrity of the data collected.

In contrast, while individual differences may influence results in longitudinal studies, the design does allow for such factors to be analyzed over time. A longitudinal design can effectively document changes, contradicting the idea that it cannot show changes, and while random sampling can enhance the generalizability of findings, it is not a strict requirement for longitudinal research. Thus, the limitation highlighted in the correct answer accurately reflects the intrinsic challenges posed by longitudinal studies.